From: thepipeline_xyz
For early stage founders, the concept of leadership is initially “out of question” [00:00:02]. Their primary focus is on intense, hands-on execution, acting as “soldiers” in the trenches.
The Founder as a Soldier
The job of an early stage founder is to “do literally everything” [00:00:11]. This involves a wide range of tasks:
- Coding [00:00:21]
- Selling [00:00:23]
- Even cleaning their own chairs [00:00:25]
- Dealing with lawyers and accountants [00:00:30]
“Absolutely everything has to be done by the founders initially” [00:00:32]. The advice given is to “be a great soldier” [00:00:38], fighting “a lot of battles on ground” before hiring others [00:00:44].
“My advice super counterintuitive is be a great soldier, become such a great soldier that you can fight a lot of battles on ground before you hire soldiers.” [00:00:38]
Importance of Hands-On Experience
The greatest founders who eventually became leaders did so because they were “great soldiers” first [00:00:16]. This hands-on experience is crucial because it teaches founders “how to hire great soldiers” [00:00:50]. A leader who has “never been on the ground fighting those battles” is considered “not very great” [00:01:10]. The belief is that “a great warrior would become a great leader” [00:01:08].
The Transition Period
After gaining significant on-the-ground experience, there will be a “transition period where you become a leader or grow into the role of a leader” [00:00:53]. While there is ample support available for those transitioning into leadership roles [00:00:57], there is less support for individuals aiming to become “great soldiers” [00:01:01]. There’s an active effort to cultivate “greatest of soldiers” [00:01:06].